Getting Unstuck – Cultivating Curiosity

The Takeaway In this episode, I travel to Berlin, Germany, and the Bebelplatz, a large square in the city's heart. A university borders one side, a church another, and the opera another. Behind me is one of Berlin’s main libraries. Sitting atop one of the buildings is an outdoor bar with large colorful umbrellas to shield the patrons. As calming as the setting is today, it was anything but on the night of May 10, 1933. There, a mob of Nazis, Nazi-leaning students, and citizens gathered to burn an estimated 20,000 books the Nazi regime had deemed culturally and spiritually unfit. The only visual evidence of that event is a subterranean memorial with enough empty library shelves to hold an estimated 20,000 books. Social Media / References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_book_burnings

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Empty_Library#:~:text=The%20Empty%20Library%20(1995)%2C,Germany%20on%20May%2010%2C%201933.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bebelplatz

Guest Dr. Erwin Garcia is the Superintendent of Billings Montana Public Schools, the largest district in the State of Montana. During his tenure, he has pioneered the establishment of three public charter schools: the Billings Early College School, the Opportunity School, and the Multilingual Academy. Dr. Garcia has broadened access to college, career, and military pathways. Before his role in Billings, Dr. Garcia served as Area Superintendent in the Houston Independent School District. Summary

In this conversation, Dr. Garcia emphasizes the importance of reading proficiency, teacher empowerment, and community involvement to support the needs of Billings students. Garcia highlights the connection between education, democracy, and societal well-being, stressing the need for adequate funding and support for teachers. He discusses how initiatives such as the family-friendly school program, Kinder Ready Program, and opening charter schools can address educational gaps. Garcia also touches on the importance of developing informed citizens, critical thinking skills, and adapting teaching methods to meet current needs. The conversation explores the need to limit attention to high-impact standards, such as reading comprehension.

Three Takeaways

1. Reading proficiency by third grade is crucial for student success and preventing dropouts, requiring focus on the science of reading and proper resource allocation.
2. Teacher empowerment, adequate compensation, and professional development are essential for addressing modern educational challenges and improving student outcomes.
3. Education plays a vital role in democracy, necessitating a holistic approach that includes community involvement, innovative programs, and a focus on developing critical thinking skills.

Social Media

Erwin Garcia, Ed.D. | LinkedIn

TEDx Billings: Democracy

About Jeff

Jeff Ikler is the Director of Quetico Leadership and Career Coaching. “Quetico” (KWEH-teh-co). He works with leaders in all aspects of life to identify and overcome obstacles in their desired future. He came to the field of coaching after a 35-year career in educational publishing. Prior to his career in educational publishing, Jeff taught high school U.S. history and government.

Jeff has hosted the “Getting Unstuck—Cultivating Curiosity” podcast for 5 years. The guests and topics he explores are designed to help listeners think differently about the familiar and welcome the new as something to consider. He is also the co-host of the Cultivating Resilience – A Whole Community Approach to Alleviating Trauma in Schools, which promotes mental health and overall wellness.

Jeff co-authored Shifting: How School Leaders Can Create a Culture of Change. Shifting integrates leadership development and change mechanics in a three-part change framework to help guide school leaders and their teams toward productive change.

Guest Frank Zaccari is a TV/podcast host and keynote speaker with a background in the U.S. Air Force and over 30 years as a high-tech executive & business owner. A five-time Best-Selling and two-time Award-Winning Author, he has written nine impactful books and co-founded the “Trust the Process” Book Marketing Program. Frank mentors at Arizona State University and the University of California Entrepreneurship Academy and guides veterans through the Veterans Treatment Court. Summary

In this episode, Jeff and Frank discuss the challenges of promoting books and creating a successful marketing campaign. Frank shares insights from his experiences, emphasizing the importance of planning and consistency. He discusses the need for authors to promote their work well in advance, outlining a 90-day pre-launch strategy involving social media, email campaigns, and targeted messaging to build awareness. Frank’s “Trust the Process” approach consists of understanding the author’s goals, creating compelling content, and using multi-channel strategies to gain traction in an oversaturated market.

The conversation also touches on the parallels between book promotion and public relations, highlighting the difficulty authors face when competing for attention in a crowded space. Frank underscores the need for resilience and adaptability, urging authors to invest in a strategy that can consistently keep their work visible.

Three Takeaways:

1. Early and Consistent Promotion: Frank emphasizes a 90-day pre-launch campaign to build momentum for a book’s release, utilizing social media, email, and podcasts to keep the book top of mind.
2. Importance of Storytelling and Engagement: Beyond the content, Frank notes the importance of personal stories and interactive elements to make campaigns memorable and relatable.
3. Resilience and Adaptability in Marketing: Frank stresses that successful campaigns require resilience and a willingness to adapt to audience reactions and market conditions.

Social Media

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4jSFziDx5ZQXP2ZY5-M0-w

https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankzaccari/

https://www.frankzaccari.com/

[email protected]/

www.authorstrusttheprocess.com/

https://www.facebook.com/frank.zaccari

Guest Dimitry Anselme is the Chief Officer of Growth and Engagement with Facing History & Ourselves. In that role, he innovates program design for school and district implementation and facilitates organizational partnerships in the US and internationally. Facing History partners with educators worldwide to help students prepare for civic life and better understand themselves and the world. Summary

In this episode, Dimitri and Jeff discuss the persistence of hate and racism despite society's efforts to combat it. They delve into the mission of Facing History and Ourselves to challenge bigotry and hatred through engaging history teaching. The conversation also explores the challenges of teaching sensitive topics like the Holocaust and the increasing need for tolerance education in elementary schools. They underscore the importance of raising ethical children and Facing History's outreach efforts, including partnerships with aligned organizations. The discussion also touches on the intersection of education, curiosity, and professional development, emphasizing the importance of preparing teachers and fostering curiosity for creativity and problem-solving.

Social Media

Website - https://www.facinghistory.org/

My guest

Renée Smith, MSOD (she/her) is the founder and CEO of A Human Workplace, a global movement and consultancy committed to making work more human. She led award-winning culture work as a state executive and served in the Governor’s Office as Director of Workplace Transformation for the State of Washington. Smith is a researcher, writer, and speaker who’s reached hundreds of audiences worldwide, making the business case for a human workplace.

Summary

In Part 2 of this episode, Renée and I explored the antidote to fear in the workplace: love. Love can manifest itself in various ways in professional settings:

> Leaders providing genuine care for employees by showing interest and respect and by creating an environment of belonging

> Workgroups functioning like a family – team building and acknowledgment of accomplishments

> Supporting individuals during personal crises.

Other critical considerations for a love-based culture include

> Sustainability, as new employees join the organization and the challenge of leadership turnover.

> Screening job candidates for their capacity for love.

> Leading with human-centered messaging.

Social Links Websites

AHumanWorkplace.com (Company)

MakeWorkMoreHuman.com/blogposts

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/reneesmith-ahumanworkplace/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-human-workplace/

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/reneesmithspeaks/

https://www.instagram.com/ahumanworkplace/

Referenced

The Amari Wave